The most revealing quote from Biggie Smalls may be something he said outside of a booth. In January 1997, Voletta’s only child sat down with ego trip magazine and a lasting sequence from the interview centered around his then newborn son, CJ.

I just want to be able to snatch him up and we just kick it. I want him to always be able to feel, “I can tell my pops anything ’cause that nigga’s the coolest nigga ever.” That’s what I want to be. I wanna be the nigga’s best friend more than anything. Whatever he wants to do in life, it’s completely his choice. I definitely want him to be able to learn from his mistakes. But at the same time I would never want him to feel like he would have to sell a drug or do anything out of the ordinary for anything, because I’m here.

I imagine being a parent is difficult given the fact someone else’s life is in custody of your own. Combine that with fame, controversy, the fast life and being only 24-years-old at the time and the only thing Biggie had to combat it all was the unyielding adulation in the aforementioned quote. Still, motivation to be the world’s greatest pops and all the love in the world did little to erase the fact his profession was a hazardous one.

All the interviews Biggie granted during the last months of his life mainly centered around the aspect of him no longer being obsessed with an early demise and the title Life After Death proved such – and to an extent, that thought process is believeable. There’s something to be said on the contrary, though.

The last three songs on the now-iconic double disc – “My Downfall,” “Long Kiss Goodnight” and “You’re Nobody (Till Somebody Kills You)” – speak volumes about the mindstate of a man whose celebrity was simultaneously becoming his most endearing and detrimental trait. They dealt with death, but digging deeper, they embodied the paranoia he was obviously harboring after seeing Pac collapse under a barrage of bullets; on his own “coast,” for that matter. As far as he knew, what would stop him from being next?

More than anything, the song “My Downfall” has remained one of the most telling, yet least discussed songs from his catalog. The track itself stood out like a sore thumb mainly because it reflected the same pent-up aggression he showcased three years earlier on Ready To Die. Except this time the pressures of fame and jealously replaced the pressures of wondering where his daughter’s next meal would come from.

“Look man, you wanna see me locked up, shot up
Moms crotched up over the casket, screaming BASTARD
Crying, know my friends is lyin
Y’all know who killed him filled him with the lugars from the Rugers
Or they Desert, dyin ain’t the shit but it’s pleasant
Kinda quiet, watch my niggas bring the riot
Giving cats the opposite of diets
You gain 30 pounds when you die no lie, lazy eye
I was high when they hit me, took a few cats with me
Shit, I need the company (uh-huh)
Apologies in order, to T’yanna my daughter
If it was up to me you would be with me, sorta like
Daddy Dearest, my vision be the clearest”

Those lyrics and the opening bars of Pac’s “Ain’t Hard To Find” represent perfect examples of extreme “controlled psychosis.” Listen to the song and re-visit the quote about his son and really take in what Big was preaching. They symbolize the tale of two powerful, emotional and conflicting thoughts – the desire to help foster his gift of life while openly accepting his own was on borrowed time.

Predicting one’s demise has become cliche’ and a means to appear “introspective” over the years, but nevertheless remains powerful – especially when the thought manifests itself. It’s why John Lennon’s last years are so documented and why Martin Luther King’s “Mountaintop” speech ranks arguably as his most valiant moment. Christopher Wallace’s “My Downfall” may fall far behind the previous two, but it represents a large part of the legacy which has proceeded him since that March night in Los Angeles nearly 14 years ago.

And to think, some artists would voluntarily die to receive the love Biggie has now. Meanwhile, he’d live just to experience the love of his kids.

Join The Discussion

He slayed this track. This “Long Kiss” and “You’re Nobody” = great way to end an album.

01.06.11 at 10:11 pm

Dirk DiggahoE

im too high to write anything meaningful…

01.06.11 at 10:13 pm

J. Tinsley

That’s when the best stuff is created though

01.06.11 at 10:19 pm

TC

This, “Long Kiss Goodnight,” “You’re Nobody…” = Biggest and best three song lineup on all Hip-Hop albums.

01.06.11 at 10:47 pm

Hip-O-Critic

MY DOWNFALL IS MY FAVORITE BIG TRACK OF ALL TIME

01.06.11 at 11:06 pm

janklow

it has long been my contention that “My Downfall” is the best song on the album, but in fairness, this is notion that’s widely considered ridiculous

01.06.11 at 11:11 pm

J. Tinsley

it has long been my contention that “My Downfall” is the best song on the album, but in fairness, this is notion that’s widely considered ridiculous

===========================

There were so many great songs on that album though. “My Downfall” is probably #1 for me, but “Miss U” is another favorite of mine. That story he told was crazy.

01.06.11 at 11:16 pm

TC

“My Downfall” might be the realest…

“What’s Beef” may be the rawest…

“Kick In The Door” may be the illest…

“Notorious Thugs” may be the hardest…

This album has yet to be topped in covering the total spectrum. 14 years strong this March…

01.06.11 at 11:28 pm

She Hate Me

This album has yet to be topped in covering the total spectrum. 14 years strong this March…
======================
Quoted for truth.

01.06.11 at 11:36 pm

AmpGeez a.k.a Smoke Greene

He slayed this track. This “Long Kiss” and “You’re Nobody” = great way to end an album.
=====================================
Those last three tracks just cemented his place as one of (if not THE) illest of his era.

“This album has yet to be topped in covering the total spectrum. 14 years strong this March…”

And 14 years later I don’t see an artist who appears to understand how to touch all bases without losing any kind of integrity as an artist. Big flipped from “I Love The Dough” & “Hypnotized” to joints like “My Downfall” & “What’s Beef”.

Even the minor issues I had with the album when it first dropped have dissolved away over the years.

On any given day, Life After Death & All Eyes On Me can trade places as the greatest double discs in Hip-Hop.

01.06.11 at 11:44 pm

AmpGeez a.k.a Smoke Greene

“Notorious Thugs” may be the hardest…
^^^

Nah. That title goes to “Long Kiss…”.

Song still gives me chills.

Puff’s adlibs add such a sense of menace….

“We not talking about no other rappers, we talkin’ about YOU muthafucka

You know who I’m talkin’ to…we comin’ for you”

01.06.11 at 11:51 pm

Nick

Great article man. Really has me thinking about the late great Chris Wallace now.

01.07.11 at 12:04 am

Sherm

Tinz – your writing skills are superb, I read each of your posts with the highest level of anticipation. But dawg, you need an editor. If you want, you can send me you shit before you post it, I’ll hook you up.

01.07.11 at 12:12 am

The Tony Grands

Good shit, Gotty.

01.07.11 at 12:34 am

J. Tinsley

Lol, good look Sherm. And I will most definitely keep that in mind.

01.07.11 at 1:46 am

Kym

@Sherm I been saying that for yrs- none of them listen, all I got was- “It’s Hip Hop”-lol
Very good read nonetheless- JT

01.07.11 at 2:01 am

Kym

You guys have to remember your historians as writers in hip hop & your leaving a mark so clean up the smudges…

01.07.11 at 2:59 am

100K

I’ve always felt that the last three songs on LAD were classics and a great way to end the album. A bit morbid considering the circumstances around BIG’s death…I’ve also felt like this song was a top 5 BIG song ever and that it was definitely slept on…

The nigga rhymed his ass off on this one. 2nd verse was retarded.

“This album has yet to be topped in covering the total spectrum. 14 years strong this March…”

Highly agreed. A lotta rap albums that made their mark on the charts post 1997 borrowed a lot from the LAD format….

I’d heard that there was a more scathing version of LKGN but it wasnt released due to Pac’s death. Cease said so in a issue of KING a while back….

01.07.11 at 3:01 am

Robb2eleven

Good look TSS i needed this right now. Now time to turn up “Long Kiss” and zone out. “I make your mouth piece obese like Della Reese…”

My Downfall is a personal favorite of mine. However, NO song (probably in the history of rap) has the initial presence like Notorious Thugs. When those piano keys chime in, everybody goes into a trance, and heads start nodding. TC is right with that short list.

Great piece, Tins. You guys have has some awesome consistent pieces here.

RMF.

01.07.11 at 8:05 am

blazedacannon

all of the songs mentioned definitely deserves to be in best hip hop song, Biggie’s story telling techniques are incredible he has the ability to make his listeners feel as if they are actually in that scenario he’s expressing. In all honesty I can listen to that whole shit back to back every track.

01.07.11 at 8:46 am

Phillmatic The MuthaFuckin Dude Wit The Shoes

Say what you want BIG was my Dude. #1 on the list excluding nobody.

01.07.11 at 8:59 am

ginobli

one of the best big track of all time

we been around the world twice all we got is more ice and more nice

01.07.11 at 9:45 am

ignite mindz

you might technically be a better rapper than Biggie, but youll never sound as good, ever. That was a good article.

01.07.11 at 10:53 am

HipHopSnob

Reading this makes me want to go dig my cassettes outta my closet and get some batteries for my walkman…smh

01.07.11 at 12:57 pm

AmpGeez a.k.a Smoke Greene

However, NO song (probably in the history of rap) has the initial presence like Notorious Thugs.
============================
Exaggerate much?

01.07.11 at 12:58 pm

Trackstar the DJ

“Kym says:
January 7, ’11 at 2:01 am

You guys have to remember your historians as writers in hip hop & your leaving a mark so clean up the smudges…”

Ahem…”You’re” lol.

01.07.11 at 1:01 pm

Willie P

Am I the only one who finds it awkward that Carl Thomas used this exact instrumental on his ‘Emotional’ album? *random rnb historian comment*

01.07.11 at 1:12 pm

Willie P

As for the ‘Notorious Thugs’ comment, it may be a bit of an exaggeration but it does build you up for some epic smoothness for like the first munute or so. From the pianos, to the guitars, to the kick-cymbals, to the snares, to the bass with the full drum kit…add all that with Bone Thugs’ harmonies…then BIG and Bone Thugs just slaughtered that beat lyrically. Thats some of the best 6 minutes of hip-hop ever.

However, NO song (probably in the history of rap) has the initial presence like Notorious Thugs.
============================
Exaggerate much?

————–

Ha! I read your response and didn’t even remember writing it the original statement. Must have been multitasking.

But nonetheless, I’m not referring to the whole song but just when it comes on- Yes the presence is bigger than any song I can think of.

In fact if you can think of a better one, it could only go to my benefit to hear it.

01.07.11 at 4:01 pm

AmpGeez a.k.a Smoke Greene

But nonetheless, I’m not referring to the whole song but just when it comes on- Yes the presence is bigger than any song I can think of.
==================================================================
I gotta agree with you cause off hand, I can’t think of another song that rivals that intro.

There was some cuts that should have been left off but still, LAD arguably contains more truly CLASSIC joints than any other single album of the last 15years

01.09.11 at 4:54 am

Smear

Nah. That title goes to “Long Kiss…”.

Song still gives me chills.

Puff’s adlibs add such a sense of menace….
^^^ CO-SIGN Tho Kick in The Door has gotta be up there….shame you have to hear the MaddRapper Skit when you press play before the actual track kicks in…. that has always given me the shits when trying to include it in a tape/mix…

01.10.11 at 1:47 pm

pacman24

“They symbolize the tale of two powerful, emotional and conflicting thoughts – the desire to help foster his gift of life while openly accepting his own was on borrowed time.”

Very powerfully put an I really think he knew he didnt have that much time left but really only wanted to see his kids grow up at the same time knowing it likely wasnt gon happen messed with his mind alot, his best way of dealing with it was to put it in songs